Originally Posted by
tjspiel
Years ago I worked for US West and they had a fancy research type facility in Boulder. For awhile I was going there several times a year, and would often stay for a couple of weeks.
They had this stair case in the lobby that I think would go up about 3 flights. On my first trip there, being accustomed to climbing stairs rather than taking elevators, I attempted to walk up the 3 flights. I don't think I've ever been so out of breath from taking stairs in my entire life. After that I learned to take the elevator and save the stairs for the 2nd week of my visit.
I used to give them crap when they'd run into difficulty solving some particular problem. I would tell them if the facility were located in a place with oxygen their brains would work a lot better.
I have lived one mile high my entire life, and I still have moments when I feel like there is no oxygen going up stairs. I think there is a limit to what the body can compensate for, and Denver is about at that limit. I often have trouble giving blood because they cant get the blood out of me, it is too thick. That is with drinking plenty of water the day prior to donation.
That said, I'd like to do the opposite and visit the lowlands, see if I can kick it into overdrive. I have visited lower areas of the country, but I dont recall ever doing any sort of prolonged physical activity to get a handle on the effect.